The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says its new voter registration initiative, ‘Niko Kadi’, is drawing more Kenyans to register ahead of the next elections. The commission reports a noticeable increase in turnout since the campaign began last week in Kasarani.
Commissioner Dr. Alutalala Mukhwana told Citizen Tv on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, that the initiative is already showing a positive response, with registration centres across the country reporting higher numbers of first-time registrants.
“We are seeing a surge across the country since this #NikoKadi initiative began in Kasarani last week,” he said.
Mukhwana highlighted that the registration process has been simplified to take about 10 minutes, and that citizens no longer have to register in their home constituencies. First-time voters can now complete the process from any location nationwide.
“If you are registering as a first-time voter, you are required to register from anywhere… you don’t need to travel to your home constituency; you register anywhere in the country to vote anywhere in the country,” he explained.
He added that registration involves filling out the required form, capturing biometric data, and signing to complete the process. Voters receive a registration card, but it is not mandatory to present it during voting.
“The card issued upon registration is evidence of registration but is not required during voting. What you need to carry is your ID or passport depending on the document you used to register,” Mukhwana said.
The commissioner said IEBC has put in place adequate personnel and strategies to manage the exercise efficiently, including targeted outreach and community engagement. Door-to-door campaigns and segmented strategies are being employed to reach more citizens.
“We have prepared adequately and have enough personnel to allow for seamless voter registration. We shall also have door-to-door and segmented strategies to reach as many people as possible,” he said.
On concerns about voter fraud, Mukhwana said measures have been introduced to limit irregularities, particularly mass transfers, while encouraging non-partisan voter mobilization.
“The possibilities of voter fraud are clearly diminished… we encourage politicians, leaders and even young people to mobilize voters to register as long as it is non-partisan,” he said.
The commissioner acknowledged that the commission has faced challenges in the past, urging the public to give the current team a chance to restore confidence.
“Our problem is that we have inherited an institution whose reputation has been dented over the years. We are asking Kenyans to give us a chance; we have stolen nobody’s votes,” he said.
He called on citizens to focus on the present reforms and support the commission in delivering credible voter registration.
“Let’s learn to move on from our past troubles and allow new officers to prove their worth,” Mukhwana added.